Originally designed as an elevated radar platform, the E‑3A has constantly evolved to address the realities of
geopolitical change and NATO’s new mission over the last 30 years. In emphasizing the control aspect of the AEW&C,
the E‑3A has become an essential part of Air Battle Management and has continued to remain operationally relevant
through successive modernisation programmes involving state-of-the-art engineering and manufacturing developments.
From the Initial NAEW&C Acquisition Programme through the Near-Term Programme
and on through the Mid-Term Programme, the NAPMO Nations have collectively spent / committed, for
acquisition and follow-on support, in excess of US$ 6.8 Billion; prohibitively expensive for any single Nation, but
realisable through the collective contribution of the NAPMO Nations.
THE INITIAL NAEW&C AQUISITION PROGRAMME (1978-1988)
The total cost of this Initial Programme amounted to US$ 4.1 Billion. Its scope was ambitious but the Programme was
successful at achieving the following:
• Acquiring 18 NE‑3A aircraft and three modified commercial 707 aircraft, for use as Trainer Cargo Aircraft (TCA)
• Upgrading 40 NATO Air Defence Ground Environment (NADGE) Radar sites
• Creating NAEW&C Force Command Headquarters
• Activating a Main Operating Base in Geilenkirchen, Germany, three Forward Operating Bases (Greece, Italy, and Turkey) and
one Forward Operating Location (Norway)
• Establishing initial logistics, training and personnel support.
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THE NEAR-TERM PROGRAMME (1990-2000)
By 1988, the NATO Military Command had stated its operational requirements for enhanced communications, surveillance, and
computer capabilities so that the fleet retain its operational viability, including inter-operability with the AEW&C
fleets of France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The NAPMO Nations agreed on the need for such an update and
the Near-Term Programme was commenced in 1990. The total cost of this upgrade was US$ 1.1 Billion.
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THE MID-TERM PROGRAMME (1997-2010)
After three years of planning, the Mid-Term Programme commenced in 1997 to further improve the capabilities of the
E‑3A fleet. This US$1.6 Billion Programme delivered enhancements in nine major functional areas: improved
human-machine interface, multi-sensor integration, automated digital communication switching, navigation system
improvement, wide-spectrum very high frequency radios, ultra high frequency satellite communications, additional display
consoles, and new identification friend or foe transponders and interrogators. Treated as a single-block upgrade, the nine
integrated system enhancements including a new software architecture to allow for future growth and reached “Full
Operational Capability” in October 2010.
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